This is the first New Year in a long time that I’ve done something serious, really serious, and by that I mean doing stuff for me, yup, not for others, I’m not giving kindness a go, I did that last year, not paying it forward, I did that last year too all I ended up doing was financially paying for others… so this year is all about me and I don’t even care how loud I shout about it. This year I am doing me!

I was given a book called You Do You by Sarah Knight and it totally awoke something inside me, I’d already learnt to ‘Not give a F**k ‘and ‘How to get my S**t together’ but now I had to learn to not give everything away too easily and say NO when I am going beyond what I can happily achieve in a day!

There is a lot of NO going on in my world this month and it feels amazing, I don’t know if you follow me on Instagram but a few weeks ago I was running late from the morning school run and attempting to get to my gym class. My partner was randomly working from home that day (you know that lovely surprise) and in my usual frame of mind I would stop what I had planned and become his PA for the day making a bacon sandwich and cups of coffee… but as I stood in the kitchen already late for the gym class, I accidentally knocked over and smashed a china mug on the kitchen floor. The usual me would think ‘Oh FFS that’s it, I’ve got to clear this up now, I’ll just send the text to the gym teacher and let her know.’

My partner shouted out “babe you ok”? and I said something I would never usually say...

“Yeh I’m fine but I’ve accidentally smashed a mug, I’m off to the gym so you’ll have to sort it” (I’m still high fiving myself as I write this)

To some they may think this is standard procedure in a household but for me this was a rather huge deal.

I went to the class, caught up with a friend, did the food shop on the way home and then went back on the afternoon school run. I wasn’t quite too sure what I was going to come home to, ‘mug or no mug’ but I was very pleasantly surprised that it had vanished. My partner cleared it up and instead of making a sarcastic dig at his efforts I just said, “Thank you, it meant I made my class today, I really appreciate it” and then I moved on with unpacking the shopping.

Moral of that story ‘Smash the Mug - don’t be a Mug’.

So the gym situation, again something I haven’t done properly in 5 years as I get so fed up with it, so what I’ve joined isn’t actually a gym, it’s a ballroom for Bootie Barre and a Sound Proof Cellar with disco lights and a glitter ball for Spin set in the most stunning scenery just outside of Tunbridge Wells.

Popcycle was introduced to me by a friend and I literally cannot thank her enough. She has been on an incredible journey herself and was in a similar frame of mind to me this time last year, she has stuck at it with the help of Sarah and Jamie at Popcycle and now I find myself embracing exercise again, appreciating where I live on a whole new level and enjoying the things in life, I’ve always loved and appreciated but had got forgotten along the way.

I’m doing everything I love and saying ‘NO’ the moment I feel like I’m getting overwhelmed or if something is a waste of my time and money.

I’m not running up to London at the drop of a hat, instead I’m embracing what’s on my doorstep and all the amazing friends, family and contacts I have but failed to spend enough time with last year.

I’m burning all the expensive candles that I save for best, I’ve bought a fondue set after a massive dose of nostalgia following lunch at at the Dalloway Terrace in London over Christmas, a fondue party is in the diary!!

I’m focusing on what makes me really happy, what’s on my ‘life’ to do list, not my ‘daily’ to do list, making more effort to pick up the phone, book spa day, brunch, lunch or even a cup of coffee instead of slinging texts or thinking I’m keeping up with everyone via virtual reality.

I’ve realised that yes social media has its benefits but its also virtual, and although I am a very visual person, I also need to be tactile and create real memories and connections with those behind the screen. The moment that takes over from the real people in my life and the real things I love to do, it's all out of balance and needs re-addressing.

Finally the one thing that won’t change is my love for what I do and the amazing women I get to work with. I am beyond grateful for the trust they have in me to help them on their own personal journey.

No journey is the same and what I do is more than clothes and shopping, it’s the start of a #youdoyou process and it can only start when you own it and start to do something about it.